Mixing device



Patented .lune 9, 1925.

UNITED STATES..

t Y. 1,541,461 PATENT oF-Flc-E.

FRED nAsnLTrNE, orl DAYTON, OHIO, .AssIGNoa To GENERAL MOTORS aE'sEAlacn cORroRATION, or DAYTON, OHIO, A. com onArroNl or DELAWARE.

MIXING DEVICE'.

Application l'ed'J'uly 2,

To all' whom it" may concern? Be it known that L FRED' E. AsEL'rINn'a citizen of thefUnitedStates of America, re# siding at Dayton', county of` Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful I'limpirove'mentsv in Ali/l'ixing Devices, of which the following' is a full, clear, and exact description. y y .Y

This invention relatesto charge forming devices or fuel mixersgfor internal combustionengines using gaseous fuel such ras natural gas'orproducer gas'and tlie'lilre. Y u

Amongfthe' objects of' the invention are:

To vary thefuel mixture proportions to suit the requirements of diifer'ent fuels; y

To obtain a rich'mixture for engine starting` when desired; *A Y Tov prevent the'Y escape` of gaseOus fuel from the mixer into the surrounding atiiiosphare;

To maintain the: fuel proportionssubstain tiallyl constantA during the operation of the engine over a wide rangel of variationsA in speed and in load; Y

To prevent over-chargingthe engine'with fuel during idling' byA the accumulation of an over-rich mixture;

To control the mixture-sothat the engine may be readily" started. Y y

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent'froin the following' description reference being had to the accompanying drawing whereinv a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: y l .l

Fg'. l is af side. elevation ofthe' f'uel'lnijxer, portions being broken away to clearly illustrate certain elements of tliejdevice.

Fig. 2 is an end viewof the device.`

Fig'. 3 is a plan view.

Fig', e is a detaill sectional view of a portion of the air'inlet' passage showing'the check valve.

Fig. 5 is a detail` sectional view ofthe gaseous fuel passage including the valve and its operating element. Y l

Fig. 6 is a detail View partly in section showing the adju-stingelement` associated with'the air and gaseous fuel valves.

Referring tothe drawings, the fuel mixer is shown comprisingv a body portion 21, provided with a flange 22, by means." .of whi'ch'ltlel mixer is. adaptedftov befsecured to an internal combustion enginey not shown on 1923:'. sriarNB'. 648,852:

`the drawing; 23 designates" the mixing chamber which is in' communication' with air and gaseous` fuel passages' 24p` and:z 25?-, formed by' the hollow projections 26 and27' respectively. These hollow projections are shown as formed integral with the body portion of the mixer 20LVV air l1orn28 is' secured to tlie endofthe projection bymeans' of screwsl29, said air horn'28being' Usha'p'edfandf forming a curved, conti'n nation of the' lair pass'age 2 4. endof the horn 28." has a' Venturi tube 30 formed there-inV for thepnrpse' of; incr Lising' the velocity' ,of the air 'passing there'- through. ,The hornisprovided te substaiil tially"` reduce the noise generally present in carbui'etors and" `cari-'sedj air rushing through a restricted passage? 'The gaseous passa-"ge25 is" adapted" to be connected witligany; suitable source of' gas eou's fuel under pressure; which' so'iir'ce' is notfshwn in the present draw-ing. y

n The apparatus? adaptedi to vary tlie 'fuel mixture' proportions 'to suit vthe;re'olu-irements of diiferentfuels, coin-prises butterfly' valves 3l and 32, positioiie'd'in the'air and'gaseous fuel passages respectively, The air controlling'butterflyl` valve '31 iscarried by a" stern 33' journalled`in 'the' airl horn-28.' Oneenl of this' stein projectsftlfrrongfh the si'dfel o`f said airy orn and lia-sthe'le-ver1 34' secured thereto in any suitab-lemanner` The gaseousA fuel co'ritroll'ing butterfly valve' 32"is The 'outer in i the projection" 27 formino'I the? gas" pas-v sagegmone end of" this stem' 3o' projecting to the outsi'dejof' said' passage` and havin-gf' the opera-tinglever 36 "secured thereto.y fr' packing gland 37 surrounds" the stein Sfte; pre'- veiitl gas? leakageatthis" point, tliepack'iin-g gland is held stemengagingfpo'sitionby. means ofthe packingl nut'38. rPhe lever 356 isfprovi'ded'with' a spring' pressed frictioi'l any suitable manner; The oppositeorscrew v ico threaded end of the rod 41 slidably projects into the standard 43, rotatablv supported on the lever 36 in any suitable manner.

Interposed' between the levers 36 and 34 and screwed upon the rod 4l is an adjusting nut 44. The nut is held in engagement with the standard 43 by means of a spring 45, one end of which abuts against the nut 44, while the other end presses against the collar 46, held in position by means of a stop 47 provided on the rod 41. A sleeve 4.8, slidably arranged on the rod 41 between the nut 44 and the collar 46, prevents binding of the spiing 45 on the screw threads of the rod 41. A tension spring 49 is also interposed between the two valve controlling levers84 and 36 tending to draw the two together. The provision of the spring 49 iii connection with the adjustable connection shown in Fig. 6 will hold these two levers "in predetermined relation throughout the rangey of operation of both said levers. When 'it' is desired to change the relative positionof one valve to the other, the adjusting nutl44, which normally held in adjusted positionv by means of thel spring 45, may be rotated to either move the standard toward or away from the angularlybent end ofthe stem 41, thereby tending to move the gas controlling valve lever 36 toward or away -from the air cont-rolling valve 34, ythus changing` the relative positions ofthe said valves to vary the fuel mixture proportions to suit the requirements of different fuels used with the mixer.

The means for obtaining a rich mixture vfor engine starting when desired, is included in the apparatus described above. `As has been mentioned before the gas valve controlling lever- 36 is provided with 'a n friction plunger 39 which cooperates with the track 40 to hold said lever in adjusted position. The adjusting connection nterposedbetween the two levers having a slidable connection between the rod 41. and the .standard 43, mounted on the lever 36 will 24, there is provideda check or flap valve 50 fulcrumed at a point 51 on an extension formed on the end of the air horn 28 which projects into the portion 26 of the housing 21. This valve is normally adapted to lie in a position as shown in'Fig. 4 when coniinunication between the mixture chamber 23 and the air passage 24 is entirely cut o.

The means for maintaining the fuel pro- Y end of the screw 57, screwedV into and through the housing 21, is adapted to project. This prevents the sleeve from rotating but will permit up and down movement thereof. Vithin the sleeve 55 v7there is positioned a lift plate 58 rotatablyv mounted on a pin 59, the ends of which project into and are supported by the sleeve 55. When in the position as shown in Fi". 1 this lift plate 58 is adapted to shut o the passage through the sleeve 55. The lift plate 58 is provided with an ear 60 to which the bifurcated end of the lever 61 is adapted to be secured vby means of the pin 62. The opposite end of said lever 61 is fulcruined on a pin 63 which is supported in a ring 64 fitting in the upper end of the passage in the housing 21. The lower end of the sliding sleeve 55 is provided with a crosspin 65 which supports the check Avalve 66. This check valve 66 has a tapered portion 67 which projects into and engages with the edges of the passage 68 when the sliding sleeve 55 is in its normal or low position as .is shown in Fig. l. The check valve 66 has a downwardly projecting portion 69 which may be termed the guide stem, said guide stem projecting through a spider 70 formed on the inside of the gaseous fuel passage 25. The check valve 66, will tend to prevent gaseous fuel from passing from the source of supply througlrthe gaseous fuelpassage 25 through the passage 68 into the fuel mixture chamber 28, when the sliding' sleeve 55 is in the normal low position as is shown in Fig. 1.

The above apparatus including the sliding sleeve 55, the lift plate 58 and the check valve 66 alsoprevents flooding the engine during idling by the accumulation of an over-rich mixture.

The control of the mixture so that the engine may be readily started, is two phase, that is, for starting the engine when cold and for starting the engine after same has become heated. The means for controlling the mixture for starting a cold engine includes the manually adjustable airand gas controlling valves 31 and 32, thev former being operable to restrict the air passing into the mixer without affecting the adjustment of the gas controlling valve, thus pro- `viding a rich mixture. For starting a warm engine, an over-rich mixture is practically unnecessary, thus the lautomatic proportioning of the mixture by the sliding'sleeve 55,

theV lift plate 58 and the check valve 66, brought -into effect by the engine will facilitate the starting of the engine without manually altering the fuel mixture proportions. The mixer operates in the following man# ner: When the engine is cold and it is desired t0 start the same, the operator moves the lever 36 in a clockwise direction about its support which will also operate the lever 34, due to the spring 49 bei interposed between said levers, thus opening the valves 82 and 31, the former permitting gas to flow into the passage beneath the check valve 66, while the latter valve will open the passageway 24 to permit air to be drawn therethrough. In order to facilitate the easy starting of the engine when cold, and after the preliminary adjustment of both the'ivalve levers 36 and 34 has been completed, the operator may, in any suitable manner, operate the air controlling valve lever 34 in a counterclockwise direction without affecting or changing the adjusted position of the gas valve controlling lever 36, thus choking the air passage 24. Upon the cranking of the engine suction will be produced which will cause a subatinospheric condition in the passageway above the lift plate 58. This will tend tomove said lift plate upwardly in the'directlon of the arrow shown in Fig, l and due to the fact that said lift plate is fulcrumed on the pin V59 secured to the slidey sleeve 5,5, said slide sleeve will also be movedv upwardly. The upward movementA of Vthe sleeve 55 will cause the lever 6l, interposed between the stationary pin 63 and the rising lift plate 58 to rotate saidlift plate 58 in a clockwise direction about its fulcrum pin thus tending to open the passageway in the sleeve 55. The upward movement of said sleeve will also lift'the check valve 66 from its valve set associated with the passageway 68. due to the fact that said check valve 66 is lsecured to .the sleeve 55 by means of the pin 65. The subatmospheric condition above the lift plate 5,8.will cause air to be sucked in through the air horn 28. The air thus passing throughthe passage 24 comir-.unicating with the air horn will lift .the flap valve and enter into the mixing chamber 23. The opening ofthe passageway 68 will permit the gas from the source of supply to flow through the passage 25, enter into the mixing` chamber 23 where said gas will mix with the incoming air and be drawn into the intake manifold of the engine which communicates with the passage above the lift plate 58.

As soon as the engine becomes self-open ative the operator releases the lever 34 thus permitting the spring 49 to move saidlever to previous adjusted positions relative to the lever 36. Opening of the gas controlling valve 32 will increase the volume of gas and thus opening the passageway in said sleeve to a greater degree and also opening the passageway 68 by the lifting of the' check valve 66. However, when Vat any given throttle opening the load is increased, the speed of the engine will decrease, thus decreasing' the suction above the lifU plate 58, thus tending to cause the sliding sleeve 55 to drop and'thus decrease the area of the passageway in said sleeve while also decreasing the aperture of the passageway 68 by the dropping of the check valve 66 with the sleeve 55. The iniiowing yair through the passageway 25 willalso decrease due to the reduction in suction, thus it may be seen that the fuel proportions, that is, the proportions of the air and gas mixture will be maintained substantially constant during variations in engine speeds and loads.

When the engin'e'is entirely at rest, suction above the lift plate 58, will be eliminated, thus causing the slide sleeve 55 with its check valve 66 to move to their normal down position, causing the check valve 66 to close the passageway 68 while at the same time the lift plate 58 will close the Vpassageway through the slide-valve VThus it may be seen that even though the operator neglects to shut olf the fuel supply which is under pressure, the fuel will be prevented substantially fronientei'ing into the intake manifold of the engine, thus tending to prevent flooding of the engine which would tend to make the starting thereof difficult. The flap valve 50 will automatically shut olf communication between the fuel mixture chamber 28 and the air intake passage 24 when the engine becomes inoperative. Thus if the operator neglects to shut off the gas supply by closing the gas'controlling valve 82, any gas which might tend to leak past the check valve 66 and enter into the fuel mixing chamber 23 would be substantially prevented from entering into the air intake passage 24 and escape therethrough to atmosphere.

The numeral 90 designates a quick and efficient device for clamping the fuel mixer in position on an engine. This device includes elements 91 and 92 having semi-circular portions 98 and 94, said elementsbeing held together by means of studs 95 and 96. The semi-circular portions 93 and 94 fit into a circumferential groove 97 formed in the bor y 2l of the fuel mixer directly beneath the flange 22.

Two oppositely disposedy camming arms 98 and 99 are termed on the elements 9i and 92 respectively said camming elements having angularly arranged edges which are adapted to engage with a flange formed on the intake manifold ot the engine and which when the clamping element is rotated in one direction, relative to the mixer and the intake manifold, will draw said 'fuel mixer into tight engagement with the manifold iiange. rlllie studs 1GO are provided tor the purpose ot projecting into correspondingly arranged holes in the intake manifold flange; thereby to prevent relative rotation ot the mixei` with the manifold when the clamping element 9() is operated to draw the mixer into engagement with the manifold.

lWhile the torni ot embodiment ot the invention as described constitutes a preferred torni, it is to be understood that other terms might be adopted all coming within the sco e ot the claims which `follow.

Y hat l claim is as "follows:

l. A mixer tor gaseous tuel and air comprisinof; in combination separate passages tor the admission ot said fluids; separate valves controlling the respective passages; and means connecting said valves tor producing movement ot one valve by movement ot' the other; said means providing a rigid motion transmitting connection between said valves when one of said valves is moved in a certain direction; and providing a yieldable connection when said valve is moved in the .opposite direction whereby both. valves may be moved in concert or one independently ot the other.

Q. A mixer tor gaseous fuel and air comprising; in combination, separate passages for the admission ot said fluids; separate valves controlling the respective passages; levers each attached to a valve; a link pivotally attached to one lever and slidably connected with the other lever; a nut carried by the link tor limiting the movement ot one lever relative to the other; and a spring connecting said levers; whereby motion ot one lever produces motion of the other lever and either lever may be moved independently ot the other; the adjustment of said nut varying the relative position ot one valve to the other.

3. A mixer for internal combustion engines comprising in combination, a suitable casing containing a mixing chamber; and air and gas passages leading thereinto; a vertically movable hollow tubular sleeve tittng within said casing and guided within its movements thereby; an oscillation litt plate pivotally supported Within said sleevej and pai-taking iever; the connected with said casing, and the lower end of which is pivotally connected with said litt plate to one side ot the pivotal support aforesaid theretor.

Ll. A mixer tor internal combustion engines comprising in combination; a suitable casing containing a mixing chamber, and air and gas passages leading thereinto; a vertically movable hollow tubular sleeve tting within said casing and guided in its movements thereby; an oscillating litt plate pivotally supported within said sleeve, and partaking oi' the movements thereof; a lever extended into said tubular sleeve and the upper end ot' wiiich is pivotally connected with said casing and the lower end of Vwhich is operatively connected with said litt plate; and a valve carried by said tubular sleeve and cooperating with said gas passage to control the flow ot gas into said mixing chamber. Y

A mixer `tor internal combustion engines comprising in combination, a suitable casing containing a mixing chamber; and air and gas passages leading thereinto; a vertically movable hollow tubular sleeve litting within said casing and guided in its movements thereby; an oscillatinglitt plate pivotally supported within said sleeve, and partaking of the movements thereof; a lever, the upper end ot which is pivotally connected with said casing and the lower end 01" which Vis pivotally connected with said litt plate; manually operable valves for controlling the flow of air and ot gas through said passages; and means connecting said valves to operate them in unison.

6. A mixer :tor internal combustion engines comprising in combination a suitable casing containing a mixing chamberl and air and gas passages leading thereinto; a vertically movable hollow tubular sleeve tting within said casing and guided in its movement thereby; an oscillating litt plate pivotally supported within said sleeve and partaking ot the movements thereof; and an operating member tor said litt plate, the upper end of said member' being held in a fixed position relative to said casing, and the lower ot the movements thereof; and a end thereof being operatively connected with said litt plate to move the same about its pivotal support In testimony whereorn l hereto a'fiix my signature.

FRED it. ASELTINE. Vllitnesses Gao. E. Pasco, WM. P. Pasco.

upper end ot' which is pivotally 

